Niger’s former Prime Minister and iconic opposition figure, Hama Amadou, has passed away at the age of 74. He died in a hospital in Niamey, the capital city of Niger, after battling with various health issues for a number of years, as confirmed by a former deputy and close associate on Thursday.
Amadou served as Prime Minister of Niger on two separate occasions, first from 1995 to 1996 and then from 1999 to 2007. Additionally, he held the position of Speaker of Parliament from 2011 to 2014. Amadou was also a candidate in the presidential elections of 2011, 2016, and 2020, albeit unsuccessfully.
As the leader of the Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation, a prominent political party he established in 2009, Amadou was known as a strong opponent of former presidents Mahamadou Issoufou and Mohamed Bazoum. Bazoum was removed from power in a coup in 2023.
Throughout his political career, Amadou faced several incarcerations. In 2009, he was imprisoned in a high-security facility on embezzlement allegations, which were later dropped. Subsequently, in 2015, he was jailed in connection with an inquiry into an illicit network involved in trafficking infants from Nigeria, a charge he asserted was politically motivated.
Despite being behind bars, Amadou was permitted by the Constitutional Court to run for president in the 2016 elections, where he finished second. Following a brief release for medical treatment in France, he returned to Niger and was detained again for eight months in relation to the same human trafficking case.
In the 2020 presidential election, his candidacy was rejected, which he contested by refusing to acknowledge Bazoum’s win. After being imprisoned in February 2021 for alleged involvement in post-election disturbances, he was released two months later due to health reasons and flew back to France.
Following the coup against Bazoum in July 2023, Amadou came back to Niger but chose to steer clear of politics until his demise.
In conclusion, Hama Amadou’s political journey in Niger was marked by resilience, controversy, and a steadfast commitment to his beliefs. As a key opposition figure, his life story reflects the complexities and challenges within the political landscape of Niger. His passing leaves a void in the country’s political arena, but his legacy will endure in the hearts of those who supported his vision for a better Niger.